JONATHAN BOOTH is already making waves in the world of British Swimming – and after a cash injection the Huddersfield paralympic hopeful is determined to make his way to the upper echelons of the sport.
Despite his years, 12-year-old Booth has already forced his way into the GB ranks as part of the World Class Talent Programme.
Such success has not gone unnoticed with Lloyds TSB picking him to be part of their Local Heroes scheme – securing £1,000 of funding in the process.
As part of the scheme Booth also got to pick the brains of Olympic triple-jump champion Jonathan Edwards and the diving silver medalist Leon Taylor .
And while admitting juggling his swimming training regime and his school work is tricky, the Borough of Kirklees Swimming Club member insists he won’t be taking his foot off the gas.
“The award launch was a really good experience and I enjoyed meeting lots of similar people to me and learning a lot about their sports and what they do in training,” said Booth.
“Sometimes it is hard to keep up with training and school work but I do my best.
“I enjoy lots of other sports like football, rounders and water polo but swimming is the sport that I concentrate the most on and it is going well.
“What is important for me now is that I keep training hard and try to keep lowering my personal best and hopefully I can do that this summer.
“I am on the GB World Class Talent Programme and at the moment I am just looking to keep develop and keep improving and try and stay in that programme by swimming well,” he added.
Lloyds TSB Local Heroes, in partnership with SportsAid, provides support and funding to 344 emerging athletes all the way to London 2012 and beyond. Follow future stars of TeamGB and ParalympicsGB at: www.lloydstsb.com/localheroes
